"Q: Often when reading religious articles on Beliefnet or other websites, I see "G-d" used instead of "God." Why is this? It seems disrespectful.
This is a good question, one that may come up more often in multifaith circles. For some (but not all) Jews, it's actually a sign of respect not to write God's name in full. The concern is that the word may be written on something that will later be thrown away or otherwise destroyed. For example, you might print out a copy of an article that mentions God, but later toss it in the trash along with old coffee grounds. Not exactly a place redolent of majesty."
www.beliefnet.com/story/135/story_13547_1.html